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Pianist to kick off 113th BSO season

BANGOR, Maine — Acclaimed pianist Jonathan Biss will help the Bangor Symphony Orchestra open its 113th season at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School.

Biss, 28, will perform Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Opus 15, which is regarded as one of the composer’s most romantic works. The orchestra, which will be led by music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li, also will perform Antonin Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, Opus 46.

The third generation in a family of professional musicians, Biss is the grandson of cellist Raya Garbousova, for whom Samuel Barber composed his Cello Concerto. Biss’ mother is award-winning violinist Miriam Fried and his father is prominent violist-violinist Paul Biss.

Jonathan Biss, who has studied at Indiana University and The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, spent the summer touring Europe with violinist Midori and cellist Johannes Moser.

BBC Music Magazine recently named Biss one of its “Tomorrow’s Greats.”

“This is a great opportunity for Bangor to hear one of the rising stars of the classical world,” said BSO Executive Director David Whitehill. “We’ll be able to say, ‘We knew him when.’”

Biss also will be on hand at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, when the BSO kicks off its new Sneak Peek series at Peakes Auditorium.

The Sneak Peek offers patrons a behind-the-scenes look at a symphony rehearsal, during which patrons are encouraged to dress casually, change seats during the course of the rehearsal and clap when they want. Audience members will have a chance to meet the musicians and Conductor Li after the rehearsal.

“Enjoy classical, be casual,” Whitehill said of the Sneak Peek series.

Tickets for the Saturday Sneak Peek and the Sunday concert are available by calling the Maine Center for the Arts box office at 581-1755 or 800-MCA-TIXX, or online at www.bangorsymphony.org.